Fred. Olsen staff raise over £10,000 for local charities, East Anglian Air Ambulance, Crohn’s & Colitis UK and Macmillan Suffolk

Staff at Ipswich-based Fred. Olsen dug deep in their pockets and joined together at their ‘Summer Ball’, held at Trinity Park, Ipswich on 12th July 2014, to raise a staggering £10,266 for their three chosen charities for 2014 – East Anglian Air Ambulance, Crohn’s & Colitis UK and Macmillan Suffolk – each of which will receive the sum of £3,422.

Penny Edgar, Director of Finance and Treasury for Fred. Olsen Ltd, said:

“We were delighted that our ‘Summer Ball’ was such a huge success this year! The highlight of the evening was our traditional ‘Grand Raffle’, with a selection of prizes all donated by our very generous suppliers. These were magnificent, and ranged from bottles of Champagne to iPads to tickets to see Kylie Minogue at the O2.

“Our staff chose to support these three good causes throughout 2014, as they are close to their hearts, with many friends and family members affected by illness and making use of the services provided by these amazing charities. Thanks to all our staff and suppliers for helping us to raise the incredible amount of £10,266 this year!”

East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) is a 365-day helicopter emergency medical service covering Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. It does not receive any direct Government funding and requires £7.6 million a year to maintain its operations. Last year, EAAA undertook 1,670 rescue missions, serving an area of 5,000 square miles, at a cost of £2,448 per mission.

Crohn's & Colitis UK aims to improve the quality of life for everyone affected by Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), the most common forms being Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Together, these conditions affect about 250,000 people in the UK. The charity brings together people of all ages, who have been diagnosed with IBD, their families and the health professionals involved in their care.

Macmillan Suffolk improves the lives of people affected by cancer locally, providing practical, medical, emotional and financial support, and striving for better cancer care. Right from the moment a patient is diagnosed, through to their treatment and beyond, Macmillan is a constant source of support to help them feel more in control of their lives.

In 2011, Fred. Olsen’s ‘Summer Ball’ succeeded in raising nearly £7,500 for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices’ (EACH) ‘Treehouse Appeal’.

For further information on Fred. Olsen, visit the websites at www.fredolsencruises.com and www.fredolsen.co.uk

If you are interested in making a donation to the East Anglian Air Ambulance, Crohn’s & Colitis UK or Macmillan Suffolk, visit the websites at www.eaaa.org.uk, www.crohnsandcolitis.org.uk and www.macmillan.org.uk respectively.